ORANGEVILLE - At almost 6 feet, 4 inches and about 2,500 pounds, a cow in Orangeville is in the running to set a world record for tallest cow.
Blosom the Holstein was recently certified as the world's tallest cow but has yet to receive her ceremonial certificate. If Blosom is determined to be the world's tallest cow, she will be in the 2016 Guinness World Records book with her photo, which will be taken in the middle of October.
Blosom lives in Orangeville on a sunny farm where she is allowed to roam pretty much whereever she wants to. Her owner, Patty Hanson, said Blosom acts like a big dog, and as long as some neck scratches and green grass are available, Blosom is a happy girl.
"She loves to have guests; she's our little ambassador," Hanson said.
Hanson owns a farm and Memory Lane Crafting Retreat in Orangeville. Hanson lives just above the retreat, and she rents out the retreat for weekends. Blosom tends to be the main attraction, and she unabashedly appreciates neck and ear scratches. The huge heifer is 13 years old, and Hanson has had her since the cow was 8 weeks old. Hanson said people have told her since she first took on the cow that Blosom could be a record breaker.
"My dad campaigned for her and I just kept putting it off and putting it off until I finally reached out and had her measured," Hanson said.
She said when a veterinarian came to measure the height from Blosom's hoof to the top of her shoulder, the vet had to use a step stool to get up high enough. The official measurement for her height is 190 centimeters, just shy of 6-foot-4.
Blosom has a head like a boulder, larger than most people's torsos, and big, wet eyes. A toddler could easily walk under Blosom's belly. The hulking Holstein has never had a calf or milked a day in her life, but Hanson said she has never dreamt of getting rid of the cow.
"There's just something about her," Hanson said. "She's got a big heart, and it's made of gold."
Hanson said her big friend Blosom has always been gentle despite her enormous size. She said her three kids used to use Blosom as a big furry bench, and the cow seems to love human touch. Blosom has her own Facebook page and is friends with another cow in Australia named Deloraine. Hanson said the page is just for fun, but she sends messages to the Australian cow. Blosom and Hanson's retreat have gotten visitors from all over the country, including Missouri, Tennessee and Florida, but Hanson said most of the visitors come from suburbs of Chicago and Milwaukee.
"They act like they've never seen a cow and they always ask, "Is that how big all cows are?'" Hanson said.
Blosom is reaching her twilight years at 13 years old and has some arthritis in her joints and a troublesome tumor in her eye, but Hanson wouldn't dare put the cow down. Hanson said Blosom is a good listener and she frequently gets birthday cards that Hanson likes to read to her.
"People just love this cow," she said.
Blosom the Holstein was recently certified as the world's tallest cow but has yet to receive her ceremonial certificate. If Blosom is determined to be the world's tallest cow, she will be in the 2016 Guinness World Records book with her photo, which will be taken in the middle of October.
Blosom lives in Orangeville on a sunny farm where she is allowed to roam pretty much whereever she wants to. Her owner, Patty Hanson, said Blosom acts like a big dog, and as long as some neck scratches and green grass are available, Blosom is a happy girl.
"She loves to have guests; she's our little ambassador," Hanson said.
Hanson owns a farm and Memory Lane Crafting Retreat in Orangeville. Hanson lives just above the retreat, and she rents out the retreat for weekends. Blosom tends to be the main attraction, and she unabashedly appreciates neck and ear scratches. The huge heifer is 13 years old, and Hanson has had her since the cow was 8 weeks old. Hanson said people have told her since she first took on the cow that Blosom could be a record breaker.
"My dad campaigned for her and I just kept putting it off and putting it off until I finally reached out and had her measured," Hanson said.
She said when a veterinarian came to measure the height from Blosom's hoof to the top of her shoulder, the vet had to use a step stool to get up high enough. The official measurement for her height is 190 centimeters, just shy of 6-foot-4.
Blosom has a head like a boulder, larger than most people's torsos, and big, wet eyes. A toddler could easily walk under Blosom's belly. The hulking Holstein has never had a calf or milked a day in her life, but Hanson said she has never dreamt of getting rid of the cow.
"There's just something about her," Hanson said. "She's got a big heart, and it's made of gold."
Hanson said her big friend Blosom has always been gentle despite her enormous size. She said her three kids used to use Blosom as a big furry bench, and the cow seems to love human touch. Blosom has her own Facebook page and is friends with another cow in Australia named Deloraine. Hanson said the page is just for fun, but she sends messages to the Australian cow. Blosom and Hanson's retreat have gotten visitors from all over the country, including Missouri, Tennessee and Florida, but Hanson said most of the visitors come from suburbs of Chicago and Milwaukee.
"They act like they've never seen a cow and they always ask, "Is that how big all cows are?'" Hanson said.
Blosom is reaching her twilight years at 13 years old and has some arthritis in her joints and a troublesome tumor in her eye, but Hanson wouldn't dare put the cow down. Hanson said Blosom is a good listener and she frequently gets birthday cards that Hanson likes to read to her.
"People just love this cow," she said.